Creative Spotlight | Kristian Kriesel
Published on 12 August 2021
Tell us a bit about who you are and what kind of creative work you make
My names Kristian Kriesel. I grew up in Balmain in the 80s and I've been working and playing music for most of my life.
I released my first album North Head in 2010. In 2011, I created my own record label Piper Art Records and started releasing albums through CD Baby. Since then I’ve produced three other albums. They are all largely instrumental and are entirely self-produced.
I’m also in a group called Bizarre Dwarfs. We played together in the 1990s and got back together in 2012. We released a brand-new album in 2020 called The Night Byrds.
As well as releasing music, I never gave up on photography. I used one of my photos of the Macquarie Centre Ice Rink for the cover of my album The Ambient Ashes.
I'm still recording music, taking photos and making videos. Generally making a nuisance of myself.
Whereabouts do you look for creative ideas? Who or what inspires you?
I'll use my video The Soaring Byrds as an example. I was walking through a park in Gladesville and came upon all these birds. They were everywhere, soaring about on the currents of air and doing figures of eight around me. I didn't have a camera with me at the time, but later on while composing music I kept thinking of the birds. So I thought I would dedicate the piece I was working on to them.
After finishing the composition, I went back with a camera and filmed. Although there were not so many birds around this time they were still soaring about and generally having fun. I used this footage/music for my video.
Does your personal history, culture or experience inform your creative work?
Very much so, I think all our memories inform what we do. Memories are pretty much at the core of all my work.
Are there any special processes, techniques or tools you use to make your creative work?
I like to use a lot of echo, and analogue gear although I do mix it up with the more modern digital techniques. Running VST's (Computer based instruments through effects pedals etc) is a technique I use a lot in my work.
What is a creative project that you’ve worked on that you’re really proud of? Why?
My track No Goodbyes. This is my best track and it's kind of special. A friend of mine said I was the king of nostalgia. If that is the case, this track takes it to a new level. It's neo-classical music, but also electronic and spacey.
The track is in two parts - the journey and then the melody (the return home). The piece is emotionally challenging. I describe it as the sound of someone climbing a flight of stairs and after each step a layer of clothing falls off. I remember thinking I wanted a piece of music that shot up into the sky, exploded and fell to the ground in bits. I fit it to a photo I took of the ice skaters in the Macquarie Centre for the video on YouTube. It's a good match.
Do you have any top tips for emerging artists and creatives just starting out?
- Look to your own community first before looking overseas
- Be prepared for rejection
- Try to find ways to collaborate - it'll increase your audience. It’s important to build an active audience, the days of passive listeners ended with the internet.
Where can we find out more about your work and get in touch?
YouTube: youtube.com/user/kriz716
Band Camp: kristiankriesel.bandcamp.com
Facebook: facebook.com/people/Kristian-Kriesel/100063121875869
Piper Art Records: facebook.com/Piper-Art-Records-104649420901152